Help with networking + devices for home install

[titeroper]

Hi all

Not sure exactly where to post this as it overlaps a few forum topic areas, but here goes:

I have client who wishes to create a "streaming home" with older non-smart HDtv's.

They have 100 mb fibre, and up to 4 users will be utlilizing the system at the same time.

They have one newish wifi enabled tv, with a LAN port so I'm happy to give them LAN connection to their main tv in the lounge.

They then have 4 older tv's that they wish to get streaming services to, spread across 100 m2 under roof of their home.

I guess there are two approaches:

Add a 16 port managed switch to the network and then:

1. LAN cable to each TV in each room, then some kind of android streaming device neatly installed and hidden away providing streaming duties. LAN into device, device connected via HDMI, to each HD tv.

Which Android streaming device would you then recommend we deploy, taking into account none of these are 4k or HDR tv sets, so maximum 1080p streaming quality?

Main streaming services they will use will be:
Netflix USA; Youtube, Youtube kids, Showmax. They want to drop dstv entirely.

Could be a total of 12 lan cables running through the house, inlcuding Ip cameras.

or

2. Wireless setup. More aesthetically pleasing, but not quite as reliable as there will also be a multitude of laptops, mobile phones, portable consoles connected to wifi at the same time, which may cause some streaming buffering.
I would install Ubiquiti Unifi AC AP's in this scenario to mitigate some of the downsides.

I would then still need some sort of streaming device (Google Chromecast?) to get the older TV's to become smart tv's.

I have checked and all their other tv's have at least one USB and or HDMI port, but none have LAN ports except the lounge.

In terms of VPN and dynamic ip addresses from their isp, what would be the most idiot-proof way for them to manage their VPN?
Are ExpressVPN and/or Unotelly still considered the gold standards for this type of scenario?
I have not played in that space for a bit, so perhaps there have been some advancements in this area?

I assume scenario 1 would be better from a support, maintenance perspective?

Thoughts and suggestions everyone?

Budget will be based on which approach is chosen.

 

[irBosOtter]

The USB ports on the TV's are not going to turn them into "smart" TV's, you will use a streaming capable device as you mentioned that will plug into a HDMI port of the TV's, except the main TV if it's got the App on the TV itself

So unless the media devices that you are going to get has a lan port it would be useless to pull cables to the TV's.

AP's you are suggesting would be fine, get them in any case even if you pull cables to media devices that will be plugged into the TV's
AC AP's are almost a must these days, especially if the internet connection is 100Mb

You will need the switch in any case, unless you pull cables from the main router to the AP's you will install, and POE switch to power the AP's if budget allows or else use the POE devices that comes wiith the AP's

Can't recommend a Android device at this point as I use a Win10 PC for that, but ordered a H96 Pro Plus Android device for myself, haven't arrived yet, but have read mixed reviews after I ordered it so might end up as a door stopper.

I don't use any VPN service so have no clue regarding that

 

[titeroper]

Thanks for the feedback irbosotter.Good advice. USB I know is sometimes used as power draw for smaller devices, but will liklet just plug those directly to power anyway.